I ran as fast as I could, and didn't stop until I got to the front door of my house. I fumbled in my pocket for my keys and, when I finally felt them, I pulled them out and unlocked the door in a matter of seconds. I didn't realise how scared I was until I noticed I was shaking.

I turned and locked the door behind me, threw the keys onto the table and headed into the kitchen. I wasn't used to running at all, I really needed something to drink before I passed out of something.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and leaned against the counter, taking a sip. So much had happened in the past week, and all of it since Mr Hinchcliffe started teaching at my school...

or was it only since Mr Hinchcliffe started?

I mean, it could have been happening before but I wasn't paying as much attention then. But no, much more serious things had happened since I met Mr Hinchcliffe. The man in the alleyway, the men at school, the feeling that people are following me, the people in the car watching my house...not to mention the fact that he knew my mother. It was all too much of a coincidence to forget about.

The dream I had last night must have really hit a nerve, because the minute I thought about my mum; the dream popped into my head...and so did Damien. I had an overwhelming need to speak to him and make sure he was okay. I know, I know...a dream is a dream, but I was still slightly scared...

I placed my bottle of water, now half empty, onto the kitchen counter and headed over to the phone on the opposite wall. I would use my mobile, but hey! International call, I wasn't paying ridiculous prices...my dad could instead. I grinned to myself as I dialled the international code along with the oh-so-familiar number.

I tapped my fingers impatiently on the counter as I listened to the repetitive ringing through the receiver, when finally it stopped. I sighed in relief when I heard the familiar sing-song voice of my aunt as she greeted me.

"Hello?"

"It's me, Jasmine! Hey!" I practically shouted through the phone, so happy to hear her at last. It's been about a month since I last spoke to Damien and his new family, and I honestly didn't realise how much I missed them until I spoke to them.

"Jas! Honey, how are you?" She enquired.

"I'm ...fine." I said, not wanting to worry her. If I mentioned anything about the last few days, she would just worry like hell. "What about you and Damien, and everybody else?"

"That's good to hear! And we're good, thank you! Do you want to speak to him? He's right here, just finishing up his tea."

I forgot about the time distance, it must be about 9pm over there. Thank god they had tea late; otherwise Dames would be asleep by now.

"Who is it? Who wants to talk to me?!" I heard Damien's voice in the background, sounding frantic and excited. Aw, I've missed this boy so much!

"Yeah, put him on the phone. He's the reason I called, actually. I realised how much I missed him, you know, a random insight kind of thing."

"Oh, darling. Bless your little heart. Damien, someone wants to talk to you!" She called over to him, and I heard a shuffling on the other end of the receiver. A few seconds later, I heard the familiar voice that belonged to the boy I had missed so much.

"Uh, hi? Who's calling me? I never get phone calls!" Damien screeched down the phone, sounding confused and hyperactive. He really needed to stop eating so many sweets, it wasn't brilliant for him.

"Excuse me; yes you do get phone calls. From me, all the time!" I said, smiling to myself.

"JASSYJASSYJASSY!" He screeched, causing me to pull the receiver away from my ear so I didn't burst an ear drum or cause any sort of long term damage.

"Hey Damien! How're you, kid?" I asked.

"Good! I scored at football yesterday, and we won! And I drew you a picture of Spongebob! My teacher said it was the best! We went to the zoo last week and guess what!? I held a baby rabbit! And, and it snowed the other day! But not at the zoo, yay! Oooh, and there was police here the other day with flashing lights an-"

"Wait, Damien, wait! What? Police?"

I felt my heart stop for a second, before beating again ten times faster than it had been. Police? Why were the police sniffing round my little brother? He was 7, there's nothing he could do wrong...apart from maybe kick a football at a window, but come on! No need for the lights, really.

"Yeah, two cars! And they had the nee-nors on with the lights!"

I heard my auntie in the background telling Damien to shut up, and attempting to take the receiver away. She couldn't, I wanted to hear this. I shouted down to her.

"Let him speak!" I demanded, wanting Damien to tell me now what had happened. Once I heard her sigh, and her footsteps back away, I spoke to Damien in a much calmer voice.

"So, honey...why were the police there?"

He sniffled, and paused for a sec. I felt the need to encourage him, so I did.

"Damien, sweetie...it's okay to tell me. I'm your big sister." I reassured.

"Uhm, yeah. Well..." He started, and I waited patiently for him to tall me of the events. I knew he would, he just needed to word it correctly. "These men, big ones, tried to get in our house."

I almost sighed in relief that it had only been a petty burglary, until he carried on.

"And the police lady said that I was in danger, because the men wanted me. She said I was because I'm special. But it's okay now, I'm at home."

"Oh god." I felt myself panicking, and I knew Damien could tell I was upset by my breathing and lack of response. I had to stop talking to him before he told anyone else, they couldn't know I was worried...I'm too predictable with my actions.

"Right, okay Damien sweetie, I'm going to go now. I'll call you again in a few days to make sure you're okay. I love you!" I smiled sweetly as I spoke, not been able to hold it back no matter how much I was panicking.

"Oh okay, bye bye Jassypops. I love you mores."

-click-

He put the phone down, so I followed suit and did the exact same thing...just before I felt myself fall backwards and had to grab onto the worktop to stop myself from falling over completely. I took deep breaths in an attempt to try and calm myself down, but I knew it wasn't going to work. I sank down to the floor and sat down, scared that if I stayed stood up any longer I would collapse. I leaned my head back on the wall, and let myself get lost in my thoughts momentarily.

Men coming for Damien, AND the things that had happened to me? Most people would call it a coincidence seen as we're in totally different countries at the other side of the world, but not me. No, I knew it wasn't coincidence. It was something much, much more sinister.

I thought back to the man that cornered me at the cinema...he was British. That, to me, almost confirmed that whoever was playing games with me were also fucking around with my little brother in England.

I stood up slowly, and stumbled over to the fridge. I pulled out a bottle of flavoured water and popped open the lid, drinking rapidly. Wow, I didn't know I was that thirsty...I only wanted a drink of water to try and calm the headache that was now taking over my senses. Fucking hell.

I dragged my feet upstairs and into my room, and as soon as I got in to it I collapsed onto my bed. I stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours, not fully aware of the emotion/s I was feeling...hurt? Worry? Fear? Or all of them? I had no idea.

But after just laying there, thinking and sobbing, I knew what I had to do. Again, it was one of those gut feelings that I had, but I just couldn't ignore it.

I knew what I had to do, and all I could do was thank God for the week out of school we had next week due to teacher training.

I couldn't let anyone, other than my dad, obviously, find out about my plans...especially Mr Hinchcliffe.

Because something tells me that he wouldn't be too happy with my idea,

not one bit.

*/ Cliffhanger! Will update soon ;)

"Inquisitive and thoughtful, She was the challenge he'd been waiting for. A reminder that creativity runs deep, like secrets. Dark eyed dreamers - they were a dangerous pair." -- All Time Low - Circles /*